Probably, each of us has had occasion to put ourselves in the place of hostages who randomly found themselves in a life-threatening situation. Fear and a desire to get out of it as soon as possible are the first and main feelings experienced by any hostage.
Where did the concept of Stockholm syndrome come from?
In August 1973, the Kredibanken bank was taken hostage in Stockholm, with four employees taken hostage. For three days, the robbers put forward their demands to the authorities with the assurance that if their request was approved, the hostages would be released. Three days after the seizure, the police drilled a hole in the roof of the bank and carried out a gas attack. The hostages were released and the perpetrators were arrested. The most interesting thing happened later. The hostages hired lawyers for the robbers to save them from the aggressive verdict of justice. The question why worried everyone. But as it turned out, during the capture of the hostages imbued with criminals and circumstances that forced them to such actions and fully justified their behavior. For all the inhabitants of the city, such behavior became a curiosity. The robbers were released, moreover, one of the hostages became friends with the family of one of the robbers. This situation is called Stockholm Syndrome.
This syndrome manifests itself quite often in our time, and many researchers are trying to understand what the problem of this phenomenon is.
How Stockholm Syndrome Works
Stockholm Syndrome has a geographical sense with an understanding of common sense and survival instinct. Many criminologists have devoted their research to this phenomenon, which allows you to read many interesting stories and draw conclusions. Some scientists have come to the conclusion that the origins of such behavior hide the relationship on an emotional level between the aggressor and the hostage. Thus, being at the mercy of the aggressor, the hostage allows him to cover his physiological needs and satisfy his vital needs.
If we consider this situation from the side of the victim, it is worth noting that, first of all, the hostage feels fear, he has panic and anxiety for his life. At the moment of exposure to a certain pressure, a feeling of pity and sympathy for the aggressor arises, which eventually develops the Stockholm syndrome. Also, the syndrome received a vivid definition – a protective-unconscious reaction, which manifests itself in the form of one-sided sympathy. As a rule, weak natures are prone to this, who in the process of life feel self-doubt. Often in the process of imprisonment there is a comparison of oneself with the aggressor, even the manifestation of brute physical force on his part does not cause a negative reaction of the prisoner.
Analyzing the above, it can be noted that the Stockholm syndrome is a non-standard reaction of a hostage to an aggressor. Identification with him, empathy for him and support for his ideas.
Where does Stockholm Syndrome occur?
Stockholm syndrome can be observed in such areas of human activity:
– family relationships and life,
– political relations,
– student-teacher.
The first example is probably the most widely used. Especially the standard version, when a husband beats his wife, and she forgives him everything and at the same time justifies him. Violence against a woman is already a disease, it is almost impossible to cure a person. There is no explanation for this, much less pity. Here the detailed and continuous work of the psychotherapist is important, and with both sides.
The political manifestation of the syndrome can be described as a simple and very common situation, when corruption reigns in the country, there is no justice, and at the same time the people worship their leader. This is nothing but the suppression of the opinions and needs of society.
Moral violence at school in our time takes place, moreover, it happens in a hidden form, since students simply find themselves hostages of certain circumstances and are forced to endure such an attitude.
In addition to these areas where the syndrome manifests itself, it can also be traced in religion, certain rituals, and even terrorism.
There is a lot of cruelty, violence and injustice in the world. Under these conditions, it is very important to remain in a state of common sense, not to lose yourself and the ability to analyze the situation and the circumstances that, one way or another, lead to this.
Stockholm syndrome very often justifies the behavior of hostages in a stressful situation. But here it is worth noting that not only circumstances play a significant role in perception, but also the unstable psyche of the victim.